With March Madness in full swing, the Sweet 16 has been decided. DId your teams make it?

But you know, it didn’t come with ease. The players had to overcome many obstacles, especially the ones between their ears.

Lots of decisions are made on the court. And the game moves so swiftly that if you linger too long on one thought, you lose the advantage. You get left behind.

Research shows that our brains have a negativity bias, meaning we tend to remember and focus more on negative experiences rather than positive ones.

I’m sure you’ve found yourself a time or two swimming with negative thoughts that won’t go away. And for a moment, it’s not a big deal. It’s like swimming in paradise, all too familiar. But then, the water (those thoughts) get heavier and begin to weigh you down. Now, you’re no longer in paradise, but struggling in sinking sand.

What is that inner dialogue that you have with yourself every day?

What keeps coming back up for you– at home, at work, at play?

Because you do realize that your thoughts control your day, especially your reactions. Right? It would be great if you would respond, but at the time, you didn’t have it together, and all you felt was the pressure to react. There you go, spiraling downhill.

• “I’m not good enough,” screams in your mind.
• “You’ll never be able to do that,” echoes through the valleys in your head.
• “You’ll never amount to anything” is the heartbeat of your sigh.

Negative self-talk can spiral into self-doubt, leading to a lack of confidence and poor performance.

“Your thoughts can become your worst enemy if you allow them to control your actions,” says sports psychologist Dr. Sarah Johnson.

But how can you take control of your thoughts and prevent them from sabotaging your success?

How do you rise above the mental attack within yourself, within your mind?

How will you overcome the thoughts so your thoughts don’t overcome you?

Establish your “thought clock”!

The K.I.S.S. ~ Establish your “thought clock”!

This reminds me of the shot clock for basketball. The shot clock is a crucial component of the game that ensures fast-paced and exciting gameplay.

So let’s take our Thought Madness a little further and impose the Thought Clock, a shot clock for your thoughts to keep your game of life moving in the right direction.

1. Prevent Stalling – Don’t run out your time on kicking your negative thoughts to the curb. It’s time those negative thoughts are put in their place, allowing for more skillful and intentional thoughts to shine through, the positive ones that are a gamechanger. When you prevent stalling, you can move faster than the negative thoughts.

2. Promote Fairness – Unfortunately, negative thoughts always have the upper hand. This changes when you have the Thought Clock. Imagine if you gave as much time to positive thoughts as you do negative thoughts, how would that influence the outcome? This element of fairness gives you permission to shut down what isn’t working for you.

Go back and look at your Thought Madness Bracket. Which teams of thoughts are ahead? Hopefully, you are giving yourself a chance to walk your miles of greatness by more positive thoughts winning.

Kristianne Wargo beautifully puts it, “Your thoughts are the seeds you plant in the garden of your mind – choose wisely.”

As basketball coach Phil Jackson once said, “The mind is the most important muscle in the body. It’s not about what you can do, but what your mind allows you to do.”

3. Increase Action – Take A.I.M.! Action ignites motivation! ~ Kristianne Wargo

It’s all about offensive skill, taking shots within a reasonable amount of time. You have got to silence the thoughts that weigh you down and reframe the thoughts that are in hiding.

If you don’t use the skills you have, the talents and gifts you possess, how will that help you in the game of life. Get back on the court and decide that great things are possible.

As renowned basketball player Michael Jordan said, “You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”

You must challenge yourself to be a participant in your thoughts.

If you want to be ALL IN in the game of your life, you have got to use the Thought Clock, it’s like the shot clock.

Did you know the shot clock is a fundamental rule in basketball that enhances the competitiveness and excitement of the sport by promoting active gameplay, preventing stalling tactics, and ensuring a fair and dynamic playing field.

“Don’t let your season end with negative thoughts. Fight for you!” ~ Kristianne Wargo

Your thoughts can be powerful allies or formidable opponents. Who do you want to win every day?

Take your thoughts captive.

Remember, as Kristianne Wargo reminds us, “Your thoughts create your now – choose them wisely.”

“Be present. Be incredible. Be YOU!!!“